Projects per year
Abstract
The toxicity of metals to microorganisms is highly correlated with the type of metal used. However, the differences in the resistance mechanisms of filamentous fungi to multiple metals remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the responses of Aspergillus niger to three toxic metals, i.e., Pb 2+, Cd 2+, and Cu 2+. Fungal growth and metabolism indices showed that A. niger had a higher tolerance to Pb 2+ (>1000 mg L −1) than to Cu 2+ (300 mg L −1) and Cd 2+ (50 mg L −1). An appropriate Pb 2+ concentration (<500 mg L −1) stimulated fungal growth and metabolic activity, whereas Cd 2+ and Cu 2+ stress showed continuously negative influences on fungal physiological parameters, such as biomass and secretion of oxalic acid. A. niger responded to Pb stress by constructing a new border layer around its cell wall. This pathway was also confirmed using RNA-seq analysis, i.e., the gene encoding cell wall α-1,3-glucan synthase was upregulated. This upregulation subsequently promoted the production of polysaccharides, which are the main components that support fungal cell walls. In contrast, the expression of genes encoding both AAA family ATPase and efflux pump antibiotic resistance proteins for Cd 2+ and Cu 2+ was significantly downregulated. Therefore, these findings elucidated the relatively complete fungal responses to different metal stresses.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 130691 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Hazardous Materials |
Volume | 446 |
Early online date | 28 Dec 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Mar 2023 |
Keywords
- A. niger
- Metal toxicity
- Physiological response
- Cell morphology change
- RNA-seq analysis
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Dive into the research topics of 'A contrast of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cu(II) toxicities to Aspergillus niger through biochemical, morphological, and genetic investigations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Tellurium and Selenium Cycling and Supply (Joint with Universities of Leicester, Durham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Aberdeen and Open University and Natural History Museum)
Gadd , G. M. (Investigator)
1/05/15 → 4/03/20
Project: Research
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COG3: The Geology, Geometallurgy and Geomicrobiology of Cobalt Resources Leading to New Product Streams (joint with Natural History Museum and Universities of Manchester, Bangor, Exeter, Loughborough and Southampton and Industrial Partner)
Gadd , G. M. (Investigator)
1/05/15 → 31/03/21
Project: Research